maybe i am paranoid, or schizo, but i see this industry shifting dramatically at the moment, and while some "advocates" might be breathing a sigh of relief, I think any relenting of criticism will ultimately give credit to similarly ineffective programs, even if they appear to be less physically abusive.
i guess its getting really dishonest, and creepy. you know what i mean?
You do seem a bit paranoid but I can't say i'm not the same way at times. It's natural to be paranoid when people have been fucked over as much as we have.
I disagree. Paranoia is
unfounded fear. Let me offer you some foundation. Straight was supposed to be the kinder, gentler Seed. :rofl: to keep from crying! One of the nifty little pranks they played on us was to tape signs up on the walls that said something like "You have the right to call 1-800-kidabuse (or some such) at any time to report abuse." This they did to comply with new requirements following a period of unusual interest by HRS. These brainiacs at HRS and whomever else was involved in that effort neglected to put in place any requirement to phone access. What a bunch of merry pranksters they were! God, I miss `em sometimes so excuse me for a second while I reload.
The overall effect was completely demoralizing; like suffocating while listening to your would be rescuers give up the search.
And then there are things like mandatory encounter group attendance in public schools. Certainly they can't come close to doing the kind of damage that a full time, long term, secluded program can do. But they effect more people and, by so doing, normalize all of the underpinning philosophy and practices of the Program.
I'm kind of a purist on this, I know, and that makes me seem difficult and bitchy. But I'm pretty certain of what I'm seeing. As I said above, I spent some years convincing myself that it was all in my crazy little head and thanking the people around me who demanded that I view things that way just for tolerating my craziness.
Then I woke up
Now I'm about done the demolition phase of renovating my life and re-learning how to trust my own gut.